Pressure-transformer.



I W. H. PEARCE.

PRESSURE TRANSFORMER.

APPLICATION FILLED NOV. 7, 1910. 1,019,913, Patented Mar. 12,1912.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. H. PEARCE.

PRESSURE TRANSFORMER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1910.

1,019,913, Patented M31112, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PEARCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRESSURE-TRANSFORMER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Transformers,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pressure transformers and has for its primaryobject to provide improved means for raising the pressure, temperatureand velocity of a low pressure fluid in an outgoing supply pipe wherebythe fluid may be transmitted through a pipe of reduced diameter.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved meanswhereby the exhaust steam from steam engines can be transmitted througha pipe of reduced size while at the same time greatly reducing the backpressure on the engine.

Another object is to provide improved means for reducing the backpressure in a low presure fluid distributing system without the use ofejectors, vacuum pumps, traps and the like, thereby providing a moreeconomically constructed system.

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in which-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through one embodiment of theinvention. Fig. 1 is a view of a modified form of the discharge nozzleand. outlet. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a low pressure systemwith high pressure connections embodying the transformer shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, parts being shown inelevation, of another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectionon the line IVIV, Fig. 3.

In exemplifying my invention I have illustrated the application of thesame to a system for transmitting exhaust steam from a steam engine. Ina system such as that employed for heating or other purposes, it iscustomary to provide pipes of suitable diameter to carry the exhauststeam at a certain known pressure, temperature and velocity. In thesesystems it is customary to employ a vacuum pump or ejector near the endof the return portion of the system, and in combination therewith, trapsconnected to the lowermost portion of the apparatus. These devices areemployed for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7, 1910.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 590,982.

the purpose of facilitating circulation and relieving the engine of backpressure. Another device which is frequently used is a replenisherconnected to the outgoing pipe at some point distant from the source ofsupply, said replenisher being simply for the purpose of introducing anew volume of fluid to replace that already consumed in the system. Bymeans of the present invention I am able to raise the pressure,temperature and velocity of the exhaust steam by installing in theoutgoing pipe a transformer such as shown in the drawings. By theemployment of this device it is possible to materially reduce the sizeof the outgoing supply pipe or pipes and to transmit the exhaust steamsubstantially without back pressure so that such devices as the vacuumpump and traps may be eliminated from the system.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a casing or housingof the transformer is constructed in two sections, 1 and 2, connectedtogether around abutting flanges 3, a joint being made at this point tofacilitate the machine work on the castings 1 and 2. At the inlet end ofthe section 2 of the housing, a collar 4, which may be bolted to theflanged end of the section 2, is provided with a threaded connectionwith a section 5 of the low pressure pipe to be more fully describedhereinafter. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the inlet section 2 isprovided in its upper wall with an opening 6 through which depends ahigh pressure inlet casting 7 suspended by a threaded connection at 8from a cover plate or closure 9. Said inlet casting 7 is provided withan annular chamber 10 within a nozzle 11. projecting forwardly, saidnozzle being provided with a contracted annular discharge outlet 12which is adapted to project an annular sheet of the high pressure fluidinto the housing. Within a central opening of the casting 7 is rigidlymounted a low pressure tube 13 which projects forwardly through thenozzle 11 and extends for some distance in front of the discharge outletof said nozzle. The forward portion of the tube 13 is providedintermediately of the nozzle 11 and its outer end, with an enlargedportion 14 which is adapted to form a contracted passageway for fluidwithin a combining tube or sleeve 15. Said combining tube 15, which mayfor convenience be termed the primary combining tube, is provided with aflared end opening adjacent the end of the nozzle 11, the contractedpassage-Way formed therein by the enlarged portion 14; of the tube 13being disposed at such a distance as to have the high pressure fluidfrom the nozzle 11 substantially flll said passage-way as it passestherethrough. The combining passage formed between the tube 13 and thesleeve 15 is enlarged forwardly and discharges into the rear flared endof a secondary combining tube or sleeve 16. The sleeves 15 and 16 areprovided with radially projecting arms 17 by means of which they arerigidly mounted within a pair of bands 18 which are mounted within thesection 1 of the housing and spaced apart by a spacing band or ring 19.Adjacent the outlet end of the secondary com bining tube 16 the housingsection 1 is contracted at 20, for a purpose to be presently explained.In order to provide means for centering the tube 13 within the sleeve15, an adjusting support in the form of a screw 21 is provided by meansof which the inlet casting 7 may be raised or lowered.

The operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 will now be understood.As the low pressure fluid enters the inlet section 2, a portion of itpasses through the tube 13. Another and larger portion passes around theinlet casting 7 and a second division of the fluid occurs at the flaredend of the combining sleeve 15, a port-ion passing through the mixingpassage-way between the tube 13 and sleeve 15 and another portionpassing on the outside of the sleeve 15. The high pressure fluidadmit-ted through the inlet casting 7 being discharged in an annularsheet in the direction of movement of the fluid through the contractedpassageway within the sleeve 15, causes an intimate mixing with aconsequent equalization of temperature, pressure and velocity betweenthe two fluids, so that the fluid which discharges from the sleeve 15into the secondary combining tube 16, is of a higher temperature,pressure and velocity than that of the low pressure fluid or exhauststeam which enters the inlet section 2. As will be understood, a secondmixture takes place within the tube 16 between the first mixture andthat portion of the low pressure fluid which passed on the outside ofthe sleeve 15, these fluids being brought together into close mixingcombination within the tube 16. As a result a second equalization takesplace between the fluid discharged from the tube 15 and the secondportion of the low pressure fluid which enters the tube 16 through theflared rear end of the same. At the contracted portion 20 of the housingsection 1, a third combination and equalization takes place between thefluid issuing from the tube 16 and the low pressure fluid dischargingfrom the space sure system. Connected up with the vertical section 26,is a back pressure valve 27 of well known construction, which preventsthe accumulation of an undesirable back pressure upon the engine 22 whenthe other parts of the system to be hereinafter described are not inuse. A controlling valve '28 controls the admission of exhaust steam toa heater 29 which is adapted to discharge through a branch 30, saidbranch 30 being connected with a horizontal pipe 31 through which thesteam may be discharged through the back pressure valve 27 or may beshunted forwardly into a downwardly projecting pipe 32 leading to asupply pipe 33. \Vhen the pipe section 32 is in use, a controlling valve3 1 prevents the discharge through the back pressure valve 27. In theevent that the steam is to be transmitted to the supply pipe 33 withoutbeing passed through the heater 29, a second horizontal section 35 maybe employed, the admission thereto being controlled by a valve 36. Inembodying the principles of the present invention in the system shown inFig. 2, a transformer 37 such as already described is connected in thelow pressure system preferably between the inlet end of the supply pipe33 and the pipe sect-ion 35. According to the present invention it ispossible to employ a supply pipe 33 of smaller diameter than the exhaustpipe 25. Leadmg from the steam pipe 23 and controlled by a valve 38 is alive steam branch pipe 39 through which live steam is connected to thetransformer 37 to perform its functions in the manner already pointedout. If desired, a pressurereducing valve 40 may be interposedbetweent-he transformer 37 and the branch 39. If so desired, a secondtransformer 41 may be installed in the supply pipe 33 to still furtherincrease the temperature, pressure and velocity of the fluid in thesupply pipe. It will be seen from this description that the transformers37 and 41 are placed in the system at some point near the beginning ofthe outgoing supply pipe so that the cost of installation is verylargely reduced by the employment of a supply pipe of comparativelysmall diameter, which is made possible by the increased temperature,pressureand velocity provided by the employment ofthese transformers. Apair of branch supply pipes are represented at 42 which are usuallydisposed at various points along the supply pipe 38. At 43 is shown thewell known type of replenisher which, according to the usual practice,is installed in the supply pipe at considerable distance from the sourceof supply of the exhaust steam. The function of this replenisher ismerely to replace the fluid already consumed or lost by condensation.Pressure gages 44 may be disposed at any desired point to determine thepressure of steam at those points.

A modified form of the discharge nozzle and outlet is shown by Fig. 1,comprising a circular outlet member 12 and tubular nozzle member 11',which form connection and communicating means between the outlet member12 and the casting 7.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the transformeris modified by having the high pressure inlet casting constructed in theform of a spider comprising a plurality of discharge nozzles 45connected by a circularly-bent pipe 46 and a central discharge nozzle 47provided with an inlet branch 48. Said inlet nozzles discharge forwardlyinto a plurality of combining sleeves or tubes 49 and the mixtures fromsaid combining tubes discharge into secondary combining sleeves or tubes50, the principle of action being the same as in the former embodimentand the exhaust steam or low pressure fluid being permitted to reach thevarious mixing tubes or combining passages by passing between theseveral nozzles 45 and the central nozzle 47. An opening 51 in thecylindrical wall of the housing of this embodiment is provided wit-h aclosure 52 from which the inlet casting is adjustably suspended by meansof a threaded connection 53.

If desired, a hot water heating device for heating houses and the likemay be embodied in the system, embodying a cylindrical housing 56provided with water tubes 57, and a water inlet pipe 58, the passagethrough which is controlled by a valve 59. Discharging into the spacearound the water tubes 57 and between the heads 60 of the heater is ashort branch leading from the main 33 and provided with a control valve61. A steam trap 62 is connected up with the lower end of the steamspace between said headers, said trap discharging into a pipe 63 leadingfrom the heater 29 to the trap 55.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a shell or housing having inlet and outlet openingsadapted to be connectedup in a low pressure fluid piping system, saidhousing being provided with a combining passage, and an annular inletnozzle for high pressure fluid disposed between the inlet opening of thehousing and said mixing passage, said nozzle being provided with acentral opening in line with said inlet opening of the housing and saidmixing passage.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shell orhousing having inlet and outlet openings adapted to be connected up in alow pressure fluid piping system, said housing being provided with acombining passage, and an annular inlet nozzle for high pressure fluiddisposed between the inlet opening of the housing and said mixingpassage, said nozzle being provided with a central opening in line withsaid inlet openng of the housing and said mixing passage, said centralopening being provided with a tubular extension projecting into saidmixing passage.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housingopen at each end, a combining tube in said housing in line with the endopenings, an annular inlet nozzle for high pressure fluid disposedbetween said combining tube and one of said end openings, and a lowpressure tube extending through said nozzle and combining tube andforming an annular combining passage.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housingprovided with inlet and outlet end openings and adapted to be connectedin a low pressure piping system, an annular inlet nozzle for high pressure fluid disposed between said end openings, a combining tube disposedco-axially with and between said nozzle and outlet end opening, saidtube being flared outwardly toward the high pressure inlet, and a tubefor low pressure fluid extending through the annular nozzle and saidmixing tube, the last said tube being largest adjacent the point atwhich the flared portion of said combining tube begins.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housingprovided with inlet and outlet end openings and adapted to be connectedin a low pressure piping system, an annular inlet nozzle for highpressure fluid disposed between said end openings, a combining tubedisposed co-axially with and between said nozzle and outlet end opening,said tube being flared outwardly toward the high pressure inlet, a tubefor low pressure fluid extending through the annular nozzle and saidmixing tube, the last said tube being largest adjacent the point atwhich the flared portion of said combining tube begins, and a secondcombining tube disposed between the first combining tube and the outletend opening.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housingprovided with inlet and outlet end openings and adapted to be connectedin a low pressure piping system, an annular inlet. nozzle for highpressure fluid disposed between said end openings, a combining tubedisposed eo-axially with and between said nozzle and outlet end opening,said tube being flared outwardly toward the high pressure inlet, a tubefor low pressure fluid extending through the annular nozzle and saidmixing tube, the last said tube being largest adjacent the point atwhich the flared portion of said combining tube begins, and a secondcombining tube of larger diameter within the first combining tube, saidsecond tube being disposed between the first combining tube and theoutlet end opening and provided with a flared end adjacent the firstcombining tube.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination in a lowpressure piping system, of a housing, a pair of combining tubes disposedend to end within said housing but spaced apart, said tubes being ofdifferent diameters and flared at their ends, which are disposed againstthe current flow, an annular high-pressure inlet discharging in thedirection of low pressure flow into the first said tube, and a lowpressure tube extending through said high pressure inlet and the firstcombining tube.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination in a lowpressure piping system, of a housing, a pair of combining tubes disposedend to end within said housing but spaced apart, said tubes being ofdifferent diameters and flared at their ends, which are disposed againstthe current flow, an annular highpressure inlet discharging in thedirection of low pressure flow into the first said tube, and a lowpressure tube eX- tending through said high pressure inlet and the firstcombining tube, said housing being contracted adjacent the discharge endof the second combining tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2nd day of November A. D.1910.

WILLIAM H. PEARCE.

Witnesses:

J. H. JOCHUM, Jr., M. WV. CANTWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

